On Sunday the sad news emerged that trans actress Alexis Arquette had died, aged 47. It’s since emerged that she may have passed away due to complications from AIDS.

Many of her friends and family have stepped forward to pay tribute. That includes sister Patricia who suggests transitions to living publicly as a woman essentially ended her blossoming career, as Hollywood simply wasn’t ready for her.

‘Alexis was a brilliant artist and painter, a singer, an entertainer and an actor. She starred in movies like Last Exit to Brooklyn, Pulp Fiction, Jumpin’ at the Boneyard, Of Mice and Men, The Wedding Singer, and The Bride of Chucky. Her career was cut short, not by her passing, but by her decision to live her truth and her life as a transgender woman. Despite the fact that there are few parts for trans actors, she refused to play roles that were demeaning or stereotypical. She was a vanguard in the fight for understanding and acceptance for all trans people.

‘She fiercely lived her reality in a world where it is dangerous to be a trans person — a world largely unready to accept differences among human beings, and where there is still the ugliness of violence and hostility towards people that we may not understand.

‘Alexis was born as Robert, our brother. We loved him the moment he arrived. But he came in as more than a sibling — he came as our great teacher. As Alexis transitioned into being a woman, she taught us tolerance and acceptance. As she moved through her process, she became our sister, teaching us what real love is.

‘We learned what real bravery is through watching her journey of living as a trans woman. We came to discover the one truth — that love is everything.

‘In the days leading to her death, she told us she was already visiting the other side, and that where she was going, there was only one gender. That on the other side, we are free from all of the things that separate us in this life, and that we are all one.

‘She passed away surrounded by love. We held her and sang her David Bowie’s “Starman” as she punched through the veil to the other side. We washed her body in rose petals and surrounded her with flowers.

‘Alexis always had to do everything first. She left before we were ready to let her go. We are all heartbroken that she is no longer with us, but we are grateful for the grace and kindness we were all shown during this difficult time. We are comforted by the fact that Alexis came into our family and was our brother and then our sister, and that she gave us so much love. We will love you always, Alexis. We know we were the lucky ones.

‘The family asks that in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations please be sent to organizations that support the LGBTQ community in honor of Alexis Arquette.’ [Read more…]

In the last few weeks many thought Boyhood had overtaken Birdman as this year’s Best Picture Oscar frontrunner, but in the end it was the latter that took to the podium at the end of ceremony, with Alejandro González Iñárritu also winning Best Director.

However everything didn’t go to Birdman, as while it took two other prizes, it actually tied for most wins with The Grand Budapest Hotel, which took Best Makeup, Best Production Design, Best Costume and Best Original Score.

On the acting front, while a few months ago many critics had already pretty much given the award to Michael Keaton for Best Actor, it was actually Eddie Redmayne who won for The Theory Of Everything. Julianne Moore won Best Actress for Still Alice, while both supporting acting awards went to the frontrunners, Patricia Arquette for Boyhood and J.K. Simmons for Whiplash.

The ceremony itself was ok, although Neil Patrick Harris struggled after a rousing opening, largely due to weak writing. It’s a shame as NPH himself was good, but he had little to work with in a job that’s thankless at the best of times.

It was also up to NPH to largely hold the fort for the gays, as while we normally make a strong showing, amongst the nominees it was only The Imitation Game that had any chance of winning. Many had thought that despite eight noms it wouldn’t win anything, but it did manage to pick up Best Adapted Screenplay for Graham Moore. The writer gave what was probably the most moving speech of the evening, saying “I tried to commit suicide at 16 and now I’m standing here. I would like for this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere. You do. Stay weird. Stay different, and then when it’s your turn and you are standing on this stage please pass the same message along.”

Oh and if you’re wondering why NPH is in his undies in the pic above, it’s not because the show was going so badly he decided to try stripping, he was re-enacting a scene from Birdman – and looking fine while doing it.

It was a big night at the EE British Academy Film Awards, where Boyhood was named Best Film with Richard Linklater winning Director and Patricia Arquette receiving the award for Supporting Actress. The Awards were hosted for a tenth year by Stephen Fry and held at London’s Royal Opera House.

While Pride lost out on Best Supporting Actress for Imelda Staunton and Best British Film, Writer Stephen Beresford and Producer David Livingstone received the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for the movie.

However the big loser on the gay-themed front was The Imitation Game, which had high hopes due to its 10 nominations, but walked away with absolutely nothing. To be honest that won’t be surprising to many, as few thought it was likely to do particularly well, but there was hope it would pick up a couple.

The Grand Budapest Hotel won five awards: Costume Design, Production Design, Make Up & Hair and Original Music, with Wes Anderson winning his first BAFTA for Original Screenplay.

Leading Actor was presented to Eddie Redmayne for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, which also received the awards for Outstanding British Film and Adapted Screenplay.

Whiplash received three BAFTAs: Supporting Actor for J. K. Simmons, Editing and Sound. Leading Actress was presented to Julianne Moore for her role in Still Alice, meaning all four of this year’s performance awards went to first-time BAFTA winners.

Writer Stephen Beresford and Producer David Livingstone received the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for their first feature film Pride. Previous Outstanding Debut winner Pawel Pawlikowski picked up the award for Film Not in the English Language for Ida.

Emmanuel Lubezki received the BAFTA for Cinematography for Birdman, having won this category twice previously, most recently in 2014.

The Lego Movie received the BAFTA for Animated Film, and Special Visual Effects was presented to Interstellar. The award for Documentary was won by Citizenfour.

Boogaloo and Graham won the British Short Film award and the British Short Animation award was presented to The Bigger Picture; both shorts are nominated for this year’s international short film and animation categories at the Oscars later this month.

The EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, was presented to Jack O’Connell.

The special award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema was presented to BBC Films in their 25th year. Mike Leigh, whose films include Naked, Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake and Mr. Turner, received the Fellowship, the highest honour the Academy can bestow.

The coming of age movie is a bit of a staple, and they range from great to truly dreadful. However it looks like Girl In Progress might be one of the better ones. The film follows a 13-year-old girls who’s been somewhat negelcted by her imperfect mother (Eva Mendes) and looks to a teen rite-of-passage as a way of changing her life. The film will be out later this year.

Roman Coppola may have been busy busy as a second unit director for his father Francis, sister Sofia and friend Wes Anderson, but a decade ago it seemed he was a promising director in his own right. He released CQ in 2001, but we haven’t had anything from him since.

That’s about to change though as he’s currently making A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, and the cast has just got a whole lot better with the announcement Bill Murray has agreed to take a role in the movie. According to Variety, he’s taking an unknown role in the movie, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Patricia Arquette.

Charlie Sheen is playing the title role, a ‘a successful graphic designer whose fame, money and charm have made him irresistible to women. When his girlfriend breaks up with him, his life swirls into a downward spiral of doubt, confusion and reflection. Through delirious fantasies involving his many failed romances, he begins the hard road of self-evaluation to come to terms with life without her.’ So nothing reflective of Sheen’s real life there then. Shooting has already begun.